"Long Beach Photos" is finally available

Well - follow this link to my book: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/372875 I am really excited about it. I hope you can see the preview of the book so you can take a look at the first 15 pages, try clicking here: http://www.blurb.com/books/372875

I am busy, busy, busy with my business. I actually understand and am enjoying working with Excel and Sensitivity Analysis for Business Plans and Market Plans... so many other plans.

Life is good. I hope you are all well.

'til next time... Syl

New Products!!

http://www.cafepress.com/longbeachphotos?s=longbeachphotos&type=23

WOW! LOTS of new stuff for sale on my site. I got brave and tackled my web page and discovered that I actually CAN do somethings that I thought were impossible. It must be anticipation for taking the Web Page Design course.

I am still working on the pages, so have patience if things don't quite look right yet.

The book is not here yet :(... impatiently waiting for its arrival to be proof read by everyone I know. I hope to get it out before Christmas for everyone to be able to see.

I've got new photos coming of Sea Creatures from Wick Beach, just as soon as my web master and I can get together. Also, my front page http://www.longbeachphotosbc.ca/ will go through some drastic changes in the next weeks.

Keep coming back to see all the exciting changes!!

'til next time....

Syl

New Book coming soon!

Hi Everyone!

Exciting news! I am putting together an 80 page book with photos of the west coast. It will be for sale on my website http://www.longbeachphotosbc.ca/ soon!

I have been working with INEO Employment here in Port Alberni, learning how to make my business a success. Lots of ideas have been put forth that I am following up on. Hopefully, I will be taking a web page design course that will allow me to make and up keep my own page. It is a challenge I am up to.

I had a quiet summer with beautiful weather here in Port. My nephew, Nick, visited me for a weekend. He had a great time surfing!

I am back at the stables getting my physical activity. It's exhausting, but it feels good to actually produce something.

Not much else is happening. I will keep you up to date on what I am working on.

'til next time.... Syl

WELL! It's been a while. The price of gas keeps me land locked for a while. I have had some trips though. I headed back east to my nephew's wedding and did some camping while I was there. I had a great trip as you can see by the adjoining pictures.

The yearly camping trip, I think this is year 46, was made up of only four bold campers this year. Four decades of campers to be exact. My Dad, Neil, my brother Bob and myself - 70's, 60's, 50' and 40's. It was a quiet camping trip with the water and weather cooperating all the way around. I am glad I had my long rain coat though as it was only 6 degrees Sunday morning and that is cold for a now west coaster that I have become.


Dad drinking his mornning cup of java and getting the fire going for those of us who slept in until o6:30. It was the sound of the crackling fire that awoke me in my very warm sleeping bag - sleeping bag compliments of my sister-in-law Slava, oh! so were the running shoes since all I brought with me were cowboy boots.

We finished the camping trip with a show of suckers spawing before our eyes right at the shore of the Maitland River. Huge fish! Making lots of noise and stirring up the water. You could actually see the fish through the water standing on the bluff where we were nestled in camping. It was a wonder to see.


Bobby and Erin's wedding was awesome. It was a whirl wind, I must admit. I arrived Friday night, greeted by Dad and June at the hotel. Satuday was the wedding... I met Erin after the wedding as she was heading to have pictures taken. The dance was great with music we all could sing and dance and jump up to. I danced with my big brother Bob, or should I say we jumped and screamed and had a great time.

Well, I will get back to the nature blog very soon. I have been revamping my business and adding product along with my images so soon you will be able to buy t-shirts, cups, travel mugs, clocks - things like that with pics of the west coast on them.... just imagine a set of matching coffee mugs! Thanks all... check it out. http://www.longbeachphotosbc.ca 'til next time.... Sylvia

Gracie Lake

http://www.longbeachphotosbc.ca/

See how clear the water is!! This is in the deep old growth forest near Gracie Lake. The water is so clear I could hardly see it. This spot is so far from hamans, no noise, no cars or machines, just birds and every now and then Sandy, the guide, spoke.

I spent the morning driving up, down and around the logging roads around Port Alberni and Sproat Lake with Rainbird Excursions. There had been a number of slides on the road that we were driving on, so they were fixing it as we drove on it. We had to wait until the truck was full and for the heavy machinery to move out of the way for us to pass by them. The Loggers and other men we ran into were very friendly and told us what roads were open and what roads were snowed in or had blow downs(trees that had blown down over winter) on them that were not yet cleared.

My guide, Sandy, knew a great deal about the area, so he gave me a running story about the area and the logging that had gone on. He was also an ornithologist and introduced me to a number of birds, some by sight and some only by their call.

I enjoyed being driven around the mountains. I got views that I wouldn't have seen anywhere else. It has spurred me on to go on more trips like this. I invite you along.

'til next time.... Syl

Sea Creatures revisited

I had a bit of luck this past week... my engine blew - that's the only bad luck, but the engine blew on the straight part of the road, where there was a signal for my cell phone, close enough to Port that a tow truck came from there. I was so happy that it did not break down on the road from Tofino to Port. Good Heavens!! All those hair pin turns! All those big trucks! That little car would be toast.

The result - no trip to the coast this week.

Once more I direct you to my website http://www.longbeachphotosbc.ca/ to the Sea Creatures page to look at the clams and barnacles. The name of these barnacles escapes me, I will post it when I get the name. This day, there were dozens of these washed up on the beach. It makes me wonder what was different about the current that day that dredged up these clams and barnacles.

I enjoy shots like this. I hope you do too.

Here's hoping to get to the coast next week.... Cheers... Syl

Tofi Surfer

http://www.longbeachphotosbc.ca/

This weeks shots should put all of you young couch potatos to shame. My friend, who could have retired quite a few years ago and who broke her hip last year, was out there surfing. You have no excuse, neither do I - except that the water is just too friggin' cold! I come from warm lake water or tropical water. This part of the Pacific Ocean will never be warm enough for me to just walk into it. lol.

The weekend was sunshine, blue skies, calm waters, but that didn't stop the die hard surfers. They gathered in the treacherous areas of the beaches, close to the rocks, to catch the surf big enough to take them in. (I can't shoot them because I don't have their permission). Then they let the rip take them back out to catch the next wave.

Jeff and Tofi Surfer stayed in water that was about waist deep. The waves were big enough for Tofi Surfer to make it all the way in to the shore. She started just as a body surf to get used to the board again and training the muscles. The wet suit that Tofi Surfer had was a man's suit and caused a pull across the chest, not allowing her to breath properly, therefore cutting her lesson short. Tofi Surfer did make it up to all fours before she had to stop. You can see the pleasure on her face as she comes out of the water.

It was put to Jeff that his niche should be Senior Surfing. He had just started his business two weeks previous. All you have to do is find that niche.

As the end of the lesson and the weekend approached, coming from the south west were rain clouds already heavy and in places dropping rain. It was time to head out ahead of the weather.

The trip across was marked with spots of buds coming out on the Birch clusters. All around us spring was showing her colours. The Skunk Cabbage is the brightest yellow in the ditches. We are all so looking forward to spring...

'til next time.... Syl

Snow Storm!

Well! Between the snow and the rain, no special pics this week.

I know! Everyone east of the mountains is laughing about driving so slowly in so little snow... but this stuff is different! It's like ice! It's actually better if the road is covered with snow, rather than this slush. Anyway, once through the snow, the light rain the weather channel predicted was torential everywhere I went.

I thought, being from Ontario, I would go to the Botanical Gardens and take some good shots -- inside, out of the rain. LOL! But this is BC and the Botanical Gardens is an outside walk, so no pics of that either.

For your viewing pleasure this week, I direct you back to my site to take a longer look at the High Tide shots. http://www.longbeachphotosbc.ca/ Take some time to really look at that water. Just imagine sitting on that beach and feel the rumble on the beach as the waves crash only meters from you. If you are uncomfortable there, you can sit high and safe on a rock. Take in all the water. All the different directions it is going at the same time.

Just enjoy it for a while.

'til next time... Syl

Whale spouts

This weeks trip lead me across the mountains with no real goal in mind. I stopped in at the information booth to see if they could tell me about the Canso airplane that went down in 1945. She informed me that it is a protected site. So I guess you don't get to see it, but, while I was there, a man asked where he and his son could set up their camera and see whales. Now that's an idea.

I set up my camera on Lighthouse point and looked towards the channel. I remembered this time to have my glasses with me so I could see in the distance, it was a good thing. As you can see, in the distance, there is a whale spout. There were lots of them. I had to have people almost hold my head to point out the spouts. I took about 10 shots, but realized they really were too difficult to see.

For your viewing pleasure, I am directing you to Kennedy River. I find those pics need the story that goes along with them. http://www.longbeachphotosbc.ca (click on Kennedy River - top right corner)

If you have been to the coast, you will remember these rocks. You no doubt stopped and took pictures at the bend in the river where just the corner is filled with rock and the water has carved its way through it.

Generally, the water is about half way up the rock. The first batch of photos were taken when the water was as low as I have ever seen it. You could see all the beauty in the rock. The water carved its way out. Take a close look at the rock as you look through the first part of the pictures.

The second set of pics are when a storm had just run through. The water completely covered the rock. The river bed was filled with roaring water. Look at the photos and try to remember what rocks are beneath it.

The final shot is a tree that will remain until the next storm takes it away.

Mother Nature sure has put on some shows this year.

'til next time..... Syl

High Tide

Well! My trip this week took my breath away and had me laughing as I took shot after shot. On lookers must have thought I was a little crazy. I guess I was. What made me so giddy? Mother Nature. http://www.longbeachphotosbc.ca

I headed across the island, no destination in mind, just letting my thoughts wander and enjoying the view as I drove. Unfortunately, there is no where to pull over for some of the more beautiful shots on the drive over.

The snow in the pass had a blue tinge to it as the sun shone through it. But wait, now the sun is gone and around the next corner is a torrential rain storm. The road is covered with water and I must be careful not to hydroplane. You have to keep your eyes on the road when it is like this. If I could tolerate other's driving, it would be nice to actually be able to look around on this drive.

The closer I got to the coast, the more my plan took effect. Last week I saw South Beach at low tide and was unable to get the effect I wanted where it looks like the waves will take you away. So, I thought I would try that at high tide.

I took only water shots this time. Mother Nature put on a show for me. I am awed by the power of the water. The small bay was alive with the roar of the ocean! The walls of water were pounding on rocks and then back on each other, churning up the stones off the beach.

I am using words here to describe something that is almost indescribable, so bear with me. As I sat and watched the phenomenon in front of me, I thought of Tolle and tried not to label anything, to just see the majesty. Can you do the same? Can you just look at the photo, hear the pounding of the water as it moves, pulling back from the beach, ripping the bottom from the earth and tossing the contents wildly into the surf. Can you feel the suction that is so intense it will cause a wall 15 feet high to collapse upon itself with such an effort, you can feel the ground shake? Can you feel the gush of wind as the breath is forced out of the wave when it collapses? Can you smell the mix of beach sand, sea salt and water? Can you feel the majesty in the moment?

When I sit here, it makes me realise how small my problems are in the big scheme of things. I let my mind empty and whatever comes in first is no doubt the most important and then I deal with that. The ocean is my ground. It puts my world in perspective. It gives me spiritual energy and as I took these photos, the energy overflowed in the form of laughter - over enjoyment - I just couldn't contain it.

I live here. I'm not on vacation.

See you next time.... Syl

South Beach

*You can see all the photos on my website at http://www.longbeachphotosbc.ca/ where I sell them for $4.99*

A good day to you all,

I chose Tuesdays to be my day to go to the coast. So this morning I planned on going , but not my usual trip to Wick Beach. I decided to step out of my routine and do something different. I never dreamt it would be so difficult to do :)

I stopped first at Larry Lake and as you can see by the first set of photos, the day put on a show. Larry Lake is fed by Kennedy River and flows into Kennedy Lake. I see my father here. When he was out to visit a few years back, we stopped here and he talked with some loggers who were making their lunch on an open fire. He had quite the time there. It is a beautiful scene.

It was the stillness of the water that was the catch today. Not a whisper of wind. Just look at the mountains reflecting in the water.

The stillness continued on Kennedy Lake. No matter how many times I see this, I still see it as breath taking and I repeat 'look at that' to know one in particular. Take a gander at Kennedy Lake. The tease with the view of Kennedy is that the first glimpse you get of it is as you round the corner of a mountain, sheer cliff and no where to stop to take the photo. Well, nowhere safe until you get down to lake level as you can see by the photo with the road on the right.

South Beach was my goal today. I have tried to take this walk for some time, but there was always a sign that said "BEAR AWARE" Path Closed. I saw some other people going that way so I figured it must be open and be safe today - that didn't stop me from packing my bear spray.

To get to South Beach, you walk past the south Tip of Wickininish (Wick) Beach, then through the woods on boardwalks until you get to South Beach.

There is an optical illusion at this beach which I have not captured with my camera. When you sit on the beach between the two rocks on the right, the waves look like they are going to come right up and wash you away. It really is quite disconcerting.

Sometimes I look at this coast and expect a dinosour to come out from behind the trees it is so wild and ancient here.

I had the opportunity to use my new lens - Canon 75-300mm. My brother's friend Roman bought it at a garage sale and gave it to me over the holidays. I took the crashing wave shot with it. That rock is quite a ways out. I haven't quite got the contrast down yet with the polarized lens on.

The trip back to Port (Alberni) was just as beautiful - it might have something to do with not seeing the sun for three months LOL, but when the sun shines in Port - you REALLY notice it!! I stopped at Taylor Arm to take a shot of Sprout Lake and Mt Arrowsmith. As I stood there and looked at Mt. Arrowsmith, I thought to myself - I live here. I'm not on vacation. How lucky am I?!

See you next time..... Syl

February 27th

To start my Blog, I would like to welcome you to my site and tell you that I will be making weekly trips to the coast to see what my camera finds. I will narrate my trip for those who have not been here and do not know the coast. For those who know the coast, enjoy:)

Welcome to the west coast of Canada.